FATHER GARAVEL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1039, 21 February 1882, Page 4

FATHER GARAVEL.

Father Garavel well known in former years in connection with the Roman Catholic Mission in Waikato (says the New Zealand Herald), is at present on a visit to Auckland, after an absence of about eighteen years. Father Garavel arrived in Auckland with Bishop Pompallier, in 1819, and was ordained as a priest after his arrival, and immediately proceeded to Waikato to work amongst the Natives. He remained in the Waikato for 12 years, was appointed secretary of the diocese, and performed the duties of foreign vicar for a time. Father Garavel visited all the Maori villages in the interior of the island, both prior and subsequent to the King movement. He was at the great Native meeting at Ngaruawahia. After the selection of the King, five Maori catechists came to Father Garavel and besought him to anoint the King. Father Garavel refused, stating that he must work for the spiritual good of both races, and if he anointed the King it would be wrong, and would displease the people and the Government of New Zealand. At Father Garavel s request, the Natives desisted their requests to have the King anointed by him. At the Taupo King meeting, he tried to persuade the Natives for their own interests, not to give their adhesion to the movement, but to be neutral. At one of the meetings, a chief in the course of his speech said it w as necessary for the Maoris to have a King to preserve peace among the tribes of New Zealand and to make laws for them, because the wana of a chief was unable to accomplish this. He said that Father Garavel had his face turned towards heaven and pointed the Natives heavenward, but while both were looking above, the land of the Maoris was going from beneath their feet. Father Garavel was in the Taranaki and Waikato wars, and was present at most of the engagements. During both wars he was equally well treated by the Europeans and Maoris, and at W aitara he w as so trusted that Governor Browne instructed his officers to allow him to go to and fro between their camp and that of the enemy. He was especially useful in his efforts to get the Natives not to murder or illtreat their prisoners, as was their custom of old. In 1864, Father Garavel. while on a visit to Sydney, was asked to stay there by the Archbishop, and Archbishop Folding arranged with Bishop Pompallier for his transfer to Sydney. Father Garavel was placed in charge of Newton, near Sydney, at which place, during his ministry, was erected a fine church at a cost of £6,000. In 1869 he visited Rome, and was ordered by the Propaganda to return to New Zealand, but on passing through Sydney, lie was again . detained by the Archbishop and ap-1 pointed to take charge of \\ averly, a | suburb of Sydney, where he lived and | worked nine years. Father Garavel : is now in charge of the Roman Catholic ' Church at Pyrmont, in the city of Svdney. He has been granted leave of absence for two months from his church, and has come to Auckland via ■ the south. Father Garavel will visit I tiie Waikato district, and will have an | interview with Tawhiao. It will be

remembered that when Tawhiao was in Auckland he enquired after Father Garavel, and hoped the mission would be re-established in Waikato. Father Garavel has been a guest of Father Walter Macdonald, in the house he i lived in eighteen years ago. He sees a great change in Auckland, and it i was with some difficulty he found his I old quarters. He lias been taken to , St. Mary’s Orphanage, and stated, | when being driven along the road, I that he remembered riding to Pon- ! sonbv through the slush and mud, and i when the road was not formed. I ather , Garavel returns to Sydney at the end of March.